Archive for the 'Bob Murray' Tag Under 'Ducks' Category

EDMONTON, Alberta -- The plan of attack to woo Teemu Selanne back for another season has worked thus far for Ducks general manager Bob Murray each summer. So why change it?

Murray said on Thursday that he'll go through the usual plan of talking often with Selanne and gauging his thoughts without applying pressure to the winger, who has long appreciated his boss's patience.

Selanne has said that he plans to make a decision on playing a 20th NHL season by July 1 but has went past that self-imposed deadline some years. Last summer, Selanne delayed his decision because he had to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

"We have a really good relationship, Teemu and I," Murray said. "He trusts me and I trust him. We'll talk. Everything with Teemu, I totally understand his [position].

"It's not about the playing. It's when all of sudden July is up and it's the 14th. We've got to say it's time to get ready. And are you going to push yourself to get ready. Because he's not going to play and just play out the string.

Now in what could be the final week of his career, Teemu Selanne says he believes the Ducks are much closer to being a good team than the standings this season indicate.

And the team's competitiveness entering next season is something Selanne will factor in when deciding about playing another season.

“The good thing is the Ducks don't have to do much (in the offseason),” Selanne insisted despite the team missing the playoffs. “That's always very important to me. I'm going to see (general manager) Bob (Murray) after the season to get his view about this team and the future.”

Among the Ducks unsigned for next season areSaku Koivu, Niklas Hagman, George Parros, Sheldon Brookbank and Jason Blake. The team's younger core figures to remain intact.

ANAHEIM -- The Ducks will have to search for another city to become home for its American Hockey League affiliate as the Syracuse Crunch declined to pick up next year's option to continue a partnership that will last only two years.

“We have not executed the option as it exists,” Dolgon told the Post-Standard. “At this point in time, we want to look out at what's best for us. That option wasn't the best for us. There's a process we're going through. There are things that need to be looked into further, and things that need to be finalized.”

Dolgon did not address speculation that he is eyeing the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are with Norfolk (Va.) in the AHL but may be looking to move elsewhere. "There may be several deals out there," he told the Post-Standard. "Things always come up. It always seems to heat up."

The two-year association between the Ducks and Syracuse has been a rocky one. Last season, Dolgon voiced his unhappiness over how the Ducks were running the affiliate during a year in which the Crunch did not advance to the Calder Cup playoffs.

DENVER -- Everyone else in the NHL seemed to think that the Ducks would be sure sellers when the trade deadline rolled around and Bob Murray, the club's general manager, thought that was a possibility when his team was languishing near the league's basement back in December.

But as the noon Pacific Time deadline passed Monday, Bobby Ryan was still with the club. As was Ryan Getzlaf and Teemu Selanne. And also Jason Blake, Niklas Hagman and Lubomir Visnovsky.

Not one player from the roster was dealt. Murray made two small minor-league trades but didn't mess with a group that has gone 17-4-4 since the calendar flipped to 2012 and sits six points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference after being 20 points out on Jan. 6.

Watching the Ducks on this rebirth of a road trip, we keep wondering the same thing:

Where would they be right now if Randy Carlyle was still their coach?

The answer, of course, is who the heck could possibly know. But, as much as he's criticized and often deservedly so, you have to credit GM Bob Murray for manning up and firing his friend at the end of November to bring in Bruce Boudreau.

It took Boudreau a bit to get the Ducks untracked, but, wow, are they a different team today.

The last time they were as close as five points from eighth place in the Western Conference (as they are now) was Nov. 19, after only 19 games.

The Q and A lasted about 30 minutes, with the questions picked from among those emailed to the team.

“They want to ask questions and I think we should have answers," Boudreau said afterward. "They're smart people and they pay a lot of money. So you gotta tell it like it is and tell the truth. I think that's what we did.”

The Ducks have been one of the NHL's biggest disappointments this season. After finishing as the fourth seed in the Western Conference last spring, the Ducks have fallen off the face of the league.

They are 19-24-8 for 46 points, putting them last in the Pacific Division. They've been at the bottom of the NHL's overall standings all season. Their poor play resulted in Randy Carlyle being fired at the end of November and replaced by Boudreau.

Ducks general manager Bob Murray raised eyebrows throughout the hockey world by indicating that Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu, who both have no-trade clauses, are the only players he has no interest in dealing.

Speaking before the Ducks' 3-1 loss to San Jose on Wednesday night, Murray said, "I still believe we have some core players. Now whether we have to change a few core players, so be it. They're deciding who's staying and who's not staying at this point."

Murray's comments at face value seemed to indicate that not only Getzlaf and Ryan could be up for discussion if they don't improve soon but linemate and reigning Hart Trophy winner Corey Perry, goalie Jonas Hiller and even defenseman Cam Fowler aren't necessarily off limits.

When a team underachieves as dramatically as the Ducks have this season, the reasons why arrive in abundance.

Unless he finds a deal to his and the team's liking, there's a decent chance general manager Bob Murray won't do anything to this roster until after the season.

If that proves to be the case, what must happen in order for the Ducks to salvage a semblance of something positive from a so-far disastrous 2011-12? Like those reasons, there are plenty of options to consider.